Multifesto is comprised of three-word design manifestos contributed by designers from diverse aesthetic, disciplinary, and geographic backgrounds. Using a simple mad-lib format — verb + preposition + noun — the Multifesto frames design as a verb: an active engagement with the world around us.

I am currently completing a Typography class at Victoria University of Wellington - Te Herenga Waka, and we were given the below instructions for this project:

Write a three-word design manifesto (in the style of the Multifesto project). It should be in the format of “verb + preposition + noun”. The three words you choose are up to you. As are the fonts: you must choose three different fonts, one for each word, and set your design manifesto in an aesthetically pleasing way. Think about font pairings and how the different typefaces speak to each other. Think about how your font choices express the idea contained in your Multifesto. The format is an A3 poster size: portrait orientation. 

To further this project in another course, Writing for Design, we were given these instructions: 

Write a three-word design manifesto (in the style of the Multifesto project). It should be in the format of “verb + preposition + noun” It can be your personal design philosophy, your intention for practice in this course, or a call to action for others. The three words you choose are up to you. 

For this, I chose the above Multifesto I had already created, and I wanted to include it below as it gives more context to the design I have created.

Progress over perfection gives insight into my creative process in the design field. It represents the shift from seeking perfection to supporting continuous improvement in my design work. A few key points of “progress over perfection” are overcoming fear, the value of starting, and constant learning. 

During college and over the first year of university, I would not start projects without having what I deemed the perfect idea; this stemmed from a fear of rejection and feeling incompetent amongst so many other creative people. Recognising this fear was vital for me as it paved the way for overcoming that and helping me improve as a designer. I began to start projects with no clear path of where I was going to take it; this helped me to forget about perfecting my work and progress my skills, allowing a flow within my creative progress; this enabled me to identify grey areas in my work, what skills I lacked in and correct those aspects of my work. This has allowed me to improve my problem-solving and refine my designs. This mindset also leans itself to feeling like no design is ever truly finished as I believe that my designs can continually be improved, opening me up to lifelong learning within the design industry, viewing each project as a chance to develop my skills rather than a test of who I am as a designer. This approach to my creative process has taught me resilience, flexibility, and how crucial self-reflection is for improvement.